Importance of otorhinolaryngology and vestibulogy for posture and balance of the human body

Abstract

The vestibular system provides the human brain with information about the angular and linear deviation of the head and body in space, as well as the sense of gravity. It is essential for maintaining adequate body position, orientation and performance of motor acts. Synchronous work with other systems – visual and proprioceptive - is observed. Disorientation, staggering and dizziness are provoked by a conflict of the information received by the different sensors. The vestibular system is a constantly engaged system. Scientific databases - PubMed, SCOPUS and MEDLINE - were used to find appropriate studies in English and other languages on the topic of this review, with the following keywords: vestibular disorder, balance, posture, adenoid hypertrophy, hearing loss. A time period of 2010-2021 was set to trace the latest discoveries in the scientific field. Fundamental pieces of scientific research from the second half of the 20th century were also included. In addition to information from the mentioned scientific databases and articles such as clinical trials and review articles, we included information and paid attention to the work of Bulgarian authors on the problems of the topic, including information from articles, abstracts of dissertations. It can be clearly concluded, based on the analyzed literature, that the ability to maintain balance is due to specific information acquired through several sensory processing systems. While vision is important for posture and balance, the ability to hear, the absence of vestibular deficits, the lack of hypertrophic processes in the adenoids contribute to the fine control and regulation of balance. Disorders in one system - visual, audio-vestibular, stomatognathic - affect others, including the whole body, because they are all connected. Patients should be offered a comprehensive diagnosis because, as has been shown many times, the pathology is interrelated and requires appropriate diagnostic methods and treatment plan. This is done in order to improve the quality of life of the patients and reduce the consequences of the disease.